The Republican is doing a minute-by-minute blog on the debate for Holyoke City Council. The debate is being sponsored by the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

That concludes our live coverage of the debate; MassLive.com will have a story later tonight.

8:36 p.m. The rounds of questions has closed. Candidates are giving closing statements.

8;34 p.m. Whelihan is asked what the best advice he has ever received. He said he watched his father serve as a city councilor and his uncles serve on fire and police departments and learned early the value of public service.

He said he was told never to take voters for granted and that his word is his bond by his father.

8:32 p.m. Vega is asked how to improve voter turnout rate in the Latino community. He said there are a lot of registered voters but it is hard to get people to vote. Councilors need to work with organizations that already exist and to get them understand why they want to vote.

8:30 p.m. Tallman is asked how to cut spending. He said there are areas to consolidate some departments.

8:29 p.m. Murphy said the key to reducing the dropout rate is to work with parents.

8:27 p.m. Menwer said it is important to look for ways to streamline when asked if the water and sewer department should be combined.

8:24 p.m. McGiverin said "the proposal for the charter change goes too far."

He said he believes a four-year mayoral term leads to "boss politics." He said he does not want to reduce the city council, there are many people who want to get involved.

He said he is against adding a CFO would add $100,000 to the city's budget.

8:23 p.m. Lisi said she believes the fire department should move into the ambulance business. The City of Holyoke has a great number of services and she believes an ambulance service would be a nice addition.

8:17 p.m. Leahy said he wants to decrease business taxes, improve the image of the city and focus on education in response to a question of the three things he would do to improve Holyoke.

8:16 p.m. Jordain is asked about the Geriatric Authority's debt. He first said the authority should pay its bills. "This is totally irresponsible."

The City Council has done many things to help the authority. He said it is time for the Authority to have a solid business plan.

8:15 p.m. A third round of questioning begins.
Bresnahan said the city must lowers the business tax rate. The city has the second-highest business tax rate in the state.

8:14 p.m. Welihan is asked about reducing the unemployment rate. He said the casino is one way, but said the construction jobs are temporary and the full-time jobs are not well-paying.

He said he hopes efforts to lower the commercial tax rate in the city will help and the new computing center may attract more people.

8:11 p.m. Vega is asked about the charter question. "There are a lot of things in the charter commission that is really great."

He questioned if having a CFO in the city is not a good idea. The role of government is not for profit.

He said he doesn't feel comfortable telling people how to vote. Everything in the charter the city council can address. "I don't feel comfortable saying I am for or against because I don't want to sway people's votes."

8:09 p.m. Peter Tallman said he is against the casino in Holyoke. He said he has studied the issue.

"I've talked to a lot of people who believe a casino is not the answer for Holyoke.

8:08 p.m. Murphy said she would like Lynch to be developed into a mixed use building with offices and retail. She said she would like to keep the fields as they are.

8:06 p.m. Menwer said the best advice he has ever been given was from his mom who said whatever he does he should be good at it and put 100 percent into it.

If the city wants to lower teen pregnancy they should get the youth involved.

"I say to myself every day what am I doing and how can I do it better," he said.

8:03 p.m. McGiverin is asked how to balance the tax rate between the commercial and residential rate.

McGiverin said the tax levy starts when the city council begins to talk about the budget. He said it is important to protect the businesses. He said he has worked hard to keep the balance between the resideential and commercial rates

8 p.m. James Leahy is asked what he wants to do with the vacant Lynch school. He said he would like to see some development, but would not like to see a box store such as a CVS move in there.

"There is so many different variables of what could happen. I'm excited about what can happen."

7:58 p.m. Kevin Jordain said the schools must have the resources they need to educate students to reduce teen pregnancy.

As city councilors they need to serve as role models. Kids who have tough breaks, they can make it. He said he grew up in poverty and has now earned his master's degree.

7:57 p.m. Bresnahan said he believes the Fire Department should take over the ambulance service. Many firefighters have their EMT licenses. The city could earn some revenue if the department took over the service.

7:56 p.m. James Whelihan says he would support joining the sewer and water department so it would be easier to collect fees.

7:53 p.m. Aaron Vega is asked about the strength of the Latino community. Vega said he believes the Latino community has some challenges. The Puerto Rican community came to Holyoke at a time when the city was declining.

He said he believes the best way is to improve the entire community and the Latino community will be part of that.

7:51 p.m. Peter Tallman is asked about changing the charter. Tallman said he believes the mayor's four-year term is beneficial but has other concerns about the proposal.

"Things have to be changed in the city...but I cannot support having a charter change in the city."

7:49 p.m. Brenna Murphy is asked if she supports casinos. Murphy said there is some time before the Holyoke casino issue is answered. "I am in support of a casino as long as it is done properly.

7:47 p.m. Yasser Menwer is asked how to cut spending. Menwer said you don't have to cut, you should create jobs. "We have to go out and market ourselves." He called the city a gem.

"Lets start thinking of a new way of bringing businesses into holyoke. ...You don't have to cut, all you have to create new jobs."

7:45 p.m. Answering a question about retiring city councilor Diosdado Lopez, Joseph McGivern said Lopez has been a councilor who listens first and acts third.

7:42 p.m. Rebecca Lisi said she will vote against the proposals to change the charter because there are too many changes. She said she does like the four-year term for mayor. "What I don't like are the portions that are prohibitive...and will supress citzen participation."

As one of the founders of CRUSH she said citizen involvement is key.

7:41 p.m. James Lehey is asked about the strengths of the City of Holyoke and how will he move toward its success. He said he will continue to move ahead by working with all people in the city.

7:31 p.m. Daniel Bresnahan said poverty is the biggest problem the city faces. When asked about the teen pregnancy rate he said "we have to start talking to kids about sex at a younger age." He said the schools have to teach reproductive anatomy in grade school.

7:39 p.m. Kevin Jordain is asked about casinos. He said voters have reservations about the casino proposal and said he is opposed to the current proposal for Wycoff Country Club.

7:30 p.m: The forum is starting for the at-large candidates. The candidates will be questioned by Michael Plaisance, Republican reporter and Lucilla Santana, reporter for El Pueblo Latino.

7:22 p.m. ward candidates are given a chance to give a one-minute closing statement.

Anthony Soto of Ward 2 said he is a property owner and he wants the best in the ward and wants to clear up the graffiti and will work with the police chief. His opponent Gloria Rosado did not attend the forum.

Purcell in Ward 3 talked about the volunteering he does in and outside the ward.

Hernandez said she once lived in a housing complex in Holyoke and learned to move beyond that.

Ferreira said he is dedicated to the city.

Fletcher said he is for progress. Alexander said he believed the city should not deviate from it's current economic development plan.

7:17 p.m. The debate moves onto Ward 7 with Gordon Alexander asking Fletcher how he can support a casino, since they bring more crime into an area.

"There are very little crimes associated with the casnios. Most casinos have their own security forces." He accused his opponent of using a scare tactic.

Fletcher asks Alexander what he will use to develop downtown.

Alexander said he will search for companies who can take advantage of assets such as less expensive utility rates and a multi-lingual population.

7:13 p.m. Ward 4 candidates Ferreira questioned Libby Hernendez what she will bring to the ward.

Hernandez said she volunteers at the YMCA, attended crime watch meetings and has volunteered with the "trash bash group" "It is not only my employment but my investment in the community."

Hernandez asked how he is going to reach out to the citizens of the ward.

Ferreira said he has been knocking on all doors and is trying to reach out to everyone no matter what language they speak or what culture they are in.

7:06 p.m. Ward 3 Candidate David Bartley asks Richard Purcell what the attributes of Ward 3 are. Purcell says "The attributes of Ward 3 are the people...Their voices are the only voices I care about.

Purcell asks Bartley what he has done to improve public safety for Ward 3 and mentions that last year he did not live in the ward.

Bartley said he has been talking to police and people in Elmwood Towers about crime issues. Bartley promises to have community policing in the ward.

Both candidates said they are also very familiar with the Holyoke Soldiers home.

7:05 p.m. Welch asks Lebron Martinez what the two most important issues in the ward are. She said safety and adding jobs.

7:02 p.m. Candidates are invited to question their opponents. Gladys Lebron-Martinez asks incumbent Donald Welch what he has done for Ward 1.

Welch said he has attended a lot of crime watch meetings down in the ward and said he has fixed a problem behind Kelly School recently.

7 p.m. Police Capt. Alan Fletcher Ward 7 candidate said he believes in economic development. He said he believes a casino is a good idea because it will create jobs.

6:59 p.m. Gordon Alexander, candidate for Ward 7 said a casino will be a terrible idea for Holyoke.

6:40 p.m. Jason Ferreira, candidate for Ward 4 said going door-to-door said he is finding all residents want a safe place to live.

6:30 p.m. all the council candidates running in ward races are allowed to give a one-minute introduction.